Apparatus for electroplating and the like



July 17, 1928.

1,677,817 JL'DE VERRE APPARATUS FOR ELEGTROPLATING AND Imam? Ll'lrr Filed Jan. 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOSEPH D VERRE BY M H 4 WgATTORNEY July 17, 1928. J. DE VERRE APPARATUS FOR ELEcTRoPLATINe-A'Nb THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED- srarlas Josnrn DE vnnnn, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

. Ar rAnATUs r03. ELECTROPLATING AND 113E Application filed January 2 ,49 3. Sex-13.110. 614,975.

My invention relates to an apparatus for electroplating and the like in which the articles are treated in a container which is rotated in a tilted position.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in which any container with'its contents may be readily detached from or replaced on its mounting on lopi'ng the operation of the apparatus as a whole or affecting the operation of similar containers remaining on the apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described having units adapted for efficient and economical arrangement and operation in mul- A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which is simple and compact in structure and which reduces to a minimum the manual assistance required in the performance of its functions.

The'invention possesses other-objects and features of advantage, some lowing description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself-to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form withinthe scope of my invention assetforth in the claims.

I 1 *Referring tosaid drawings: I

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus of my invention showing a plurality ofunits arranged as a in an electrolyte contained inv a barrel or l containerwhich is usually rotated in a tilted position. llhe containers are'usually adapted -to be fixed on their supports in. such mannor that the operation of the entire machine must be stopped before a container may be the apparatus without *stop- I present form comprises a n-nits associated for simultaneous operation. Each unit essentially of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the fol-' iera tion of the apparatus, 'tble mounting of "ically' maintaining "the less of changes in posl tus 3 includes a plurality of battery for slmultaneous op 40 eration, one ofthe containers being omitted of small articles, is

bevel gear 17 fixed on removed from the machine or ope'ratiwely replaced thereon. However, in accordance with my invention Fthecontainer may be readily removed or replaced while the machine is in operation. This feature ispabtlC-lllafl'ly advantageous when the paratns includes a battery of container unrts as, first, it insures a minimum interruption in the continuity of operation; second it enables a ready exchange of containers so that not only can di lfererrt'plating" be more readily effected but" the different allied operations such :as polishing and burnishing can be :done with 'the same unit;-third, the

possibility of-using a dr img 'meehanisln common to all of the units. I

Briefly expressed, the apparatus in its plurality of like indudes a conmmer removably'mountod on a rotatable shaft which is in turn mounted to revolve about a drive shaft to :all of the units. The "mounting of the container on the driven shaft issuch as to allow its ready minimal or replacement [on the shaft" during theopwhile the revoludi iven shaft allowsthe' container to be rotated in any'desired-tiltedr sition. 'Means are included for autom tneoessary electrical connections for a plating operation regardtion of the various associated members of the apparatus;

. A detailed description follows As illustrated in the drawings, the apparaunits each of which comprises a container or barrel 5 with rotatable and tiltable supporting uneans 7 and electrical connections for plating. *The supporting means i a frame 8 having bearings9 by which the frame is revolu'bly held on a main drive shaft 12 suitably supported in bearings 10'.

Plating n 7 as here shown includes Rotata'loly mounted in'bearings 13 which are secured on the frame, is a driven shaft 14 having a bevel gear .16 fixed on -one end thereof and meshing with a complementary the drive shaft, Each of the drivenshaf-ts '14 is held against longitudinal displacement" in either direction by collars '18 and 19 suitably thereon.

midi) The container is arranged to be removably mounted on the outer end 21 of the shaft 14, and partly for this purpose is provided with a flanged sleeve 22 which is attached to and extends from the bottom 23 of the container and is adapted for slidable engagement with the shaft.

Cooperative means'are providedon the shaft 14 and thesleeve22 for causing the container to become fixed for rotatiori'with" the drive shaft, or released from such engagement, by longitudinal displacement of the container on the shaft. In the present embodiment of the invention, this engagement and disengagement are respectively effected by the longitudinal displacement of the containeron the driven shaft during the completion of the operation ofmounting the former on the latter, and at the commencement of the container dismounting operation, Inaccordance with provided with one or more pins orteeth 24 set transversely therein and which may be readily engaged with or disengaged from the recessed extremity 26 of the sleeve upon a slight longitudinal displacement of the container, thereby causingthe latter to be :positively-tfixed for or released from rotation, with the shaft 14. It is thus clear that b-ymerely slipping the sleeve on or off the ,of the shafts 5 machine are caused to be and simultaneously, method of connection between the container andthe driven shaft, any one of the con vtainers may be removed, replaced, or exchange'd independently of the others at any' z-tim'e, during such operation without any dif yficulty. 1

As previously explained, the frame is revoshaft the contaln'er may Due to the use of a single drive shaft, all

driven continuously but on account of the lubly mounted on the drive shaft thereby allowing it to be moved through a vertical plane. This enables the container to be ro- .tatedwhile in various tilted positions, variations of the amount of tilt being permitted by lengthening or shortening the section of the chain 27 held between the hooks 28 and 29 which are fixed to said frame and wall 31 respectively. v g v v Eachv container has arranged thereon a cathode-32Which is connected electrically with the sleeve by means through the insulating material of bolts .of which the walls of the container are made. Current is conducted to the sleeve from the lead 34 by means of the shaft '14 and branch 36, the latter being held in proper electrical contact with the shaft by a brush 37. A spring 38 serves to ,hold the brush firmly pressed against the shaft during the the foregoing the outer endportion'21 of the driven shaft is be operatively mounted thereon or readily released there- .from.

14 during the operation of the.

33 passing preferably 'ble' movement therewith and rotation thereof and regardless of the amount of the tilt of tlfe frame.

The anode 39 which is connected to a lead 41 by a branch 42 is preferably suspended from an adjustable arm 43, the branch conductor 42 being fixed to the arm so that the anode may be held in the electrolyte with which the container-is partially filled. A trough 44 is provided on the wall 31 in which the anode maybe conveniently placed when not in use.

The apparatus may be driven by any suitable. motive power properly connected with the drive shaft 12. V V

It is to be noted that while the apparatus in the present embodiment of the invention is made, up of a plurality of units, a single unit incorporating many of the features of my invention may be used to considerable advantage.

I claim: I

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of rotatable members pivoted to be swung in vertical planes, means for drlving sa d members slmultaneously, and contalners arranged to be so mounted on said members that each may be removed from or replaced on said members while each of said members is rotating at normal speeds.

v 2. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a drive shaft, a plurality of shafts angularly disposed with respect toand arranged to be. driven by saidfldrive shaft, driving connections between said drive and driven shafts, frames revolubly mounted on said drive shaft independentof one an:- other' and arranged to rotatably support said driven shafts, means for adjustably holding said frames in position, containers adapted to be mounted on said driven shafts for rotation therewithand arranged to have an-- anode and cathode associated therew th, a

clutch mechanism operable by the relative longitudinal displacement of a container and shaft to connect them for or release them from rotative engagement, an anode support-.-

support said driven shafts for. rotation,

means for. holdingsaid frames in adjusted position, containers removably mounted on; said driven shafts for rotative and revolu arranged to be displaced from operativg engagement thereand means arranged toholdl withdduring the rotation thereof at normal spee s.

at. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of rotatable members, and containers arranged to be mounted on said member for rotation therewith that they may be readily removed from or replaced on said members while said members are rotating.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotatable plurality of supports, containers adapted to be mounted on said supports for rotation therewith and arranged'to have anode and cathode members associated therewith, means operable entirely by and upon a relative displacement of said containers and supports to connect them for or release them from rotative engagement, and means arranged to hold one of said members connected to a source of current during the rotation of its support.

6. In a mounting for a tumbler barrel or the like, a revoluble shaft member arranged to be continuously rotated and having) a free upper end, a container arranged to e supported by and upon said shaft end,'a sleeve .member depending from said container and about said shaft .end, and coengageable operating clutch means on said shaft and sleeve comprising a member projecting radially from the shaft and engageable in an axially directed recess provided in the extremity of the sleeve.

In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my-ha-nd, at akland, this 5th day of January, 1923.

J O SEPH DE 'VERRE; 

